Fence-post.



D. E. SNOKE.

FENCE POST.

APPLICATION rum: JUNE 29, 1912.

Patented June 9, 191% Witnesses Attorneys DAVIDE. SNOKE, OF LUDINGTON,LOUISIANA.

FENCE-POST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 9, 1914.

Application filed June 29, 1912. Serial No. 706,715.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID E. SNoKn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ludington, in the parish of Oaleasieu and State ofLouisiana, have invented a new and useful FencePost, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to fence posts, and aims primarily to provide afence post molded from plastic material which has combined therewithmeans for locking the fence wires thereto in a novel manner.

The present invention also comprehends the provision of a fence post ofthe character indicated which shall be simple, durable, substantial andinexpensive in construction, and which shall be convenient and eificientin use.

With the foregoing general objects outlined, and other objects in view,which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the inventionresides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts and in thedetails of construction hereinafter set forth and claimed, itbeingunderstood that changes in the precise embodiment of the inventionherein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. a

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in theaccompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a postconstructed in accordance with the present invention as in use. Fig. 2is a longitudinal section of the post. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectiontaken through the post.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the post has been designated bythe numeral 4, the same being molded of concrete or other plasticmaterial by means of a suitable mold or other apparatus. The lower endof the post 4 is made sufficiently thick so that when it is embedded inthe soil, it will withstand the various conditions to which the post issubjected, and the post tapers upwardly from a point which is at thesurface of the soil when the post is in position in the soil.

The post 4 is provided at one side with a longitudinal channel 5, whichprovides a pair of flanges 6 alongthe edges of the corresponding side,the edges of the said flanges being sinuous to provide transversecorrugations. These grooves formed by the corrugations extend to theplane of the bottom of the channel 6, the channel 6 and the corrugationsextending throughout the length of the post which is normally above thesoil. Along the side of the post opposite the side having the channel(3, the post is provided with a longitudinal channel 7 which increasesin depth toward the lower end of the post, the channel 7 beingco-extonsive with the channel 6. A metallic locking bar 8 fits in thechannel 6 between the ridges of the corrugations and extends throughoutthe length of the channel 6, bolts or draft members 9 being passedthrough the looking bar 8 at intervals along its length and through thepost 4. The heads of the bolts 9 are arranged in the channel 7, and thebolts bear nuts 10 engaging the outer face of the locking bar 8, so thatwhen the nuts are tightened the locking bar 8 is forced inwardly in thechannel 6. The lower extremity of the locking bar 8 is bent outwardly asat 8' and which coacts with the beveled end 6 of the channel 6. By soforming the lower extremities of the locking bar and channel the lowerand body portion of the fence will be held against direct compressionfrom the locking bar to allow for the longitudinal or axial movementsthereof. Also the lower end of the locking bar presents a ledge againstwhich the blows of a hammer may be directed in order to force thelocking bar from the channel. Also mention is made of the fact that thechannel bar may be driven longitudinally of the slot without likelihoodof the lower extremity contacting with the lower extremity of thechannel slot which would fracture the same.

When the present fence post is to be employed, a number of the posts areset or embedded in, the soil in the usual fashion, and the longitudinalstrands of the fence wire are passed through the respective pairs ofcomplementing grooves provided by the corrugated flanges 6, the lockingbar 8 of each post then being inserted between the flanges 6 and thebolts 9 and then being positioned so as to draw the bar 8 inwardly. Thebar 8 being secured to the post will lock the strands of wire againstvertical or transverse movement, but will permit the strands of wire toslide longitudinally, thus permitting the proper expansion orcontraction of the strands due to the atmospheric changes to which thefence is susceptible. In this manner, the fence wires may be securelylocked to the fence post for sliding movement relative thereto, but tobe otherwise constrained against movement, and by removing thelockingbars of the various posts, the fence wires may bedetachedwhenever desired or necessary.

The grooves of the corrugations extending to the bottom of the channel 5permit the strands of wire to pass between the post and looking barswithout kinking for bending,

this being of advantage for the reason that fence wires are generallyplated with zinc and a kinking or bending thereof would tend to crack orchip off the plating, which would result in the rusting or breaking ofthe wire. The fence post is of a convenient and ehicient design so thatit may be conveniently and easily molded of concrete or other plasticmaterial, and when molded, will provide a substantial and durable post.The corrugations provided in the flanges 6 permit the strands of wire tobe inserted in the various vertical corrugations, so that the fence postmay accommodate various forms of woven wire fences, or fences whereinthe longitudinal strands are spaced more or less apart. It is frequentlydesirable or necessary to readjust the spacing of the fence strands, orto shift one or more of the strands vertically, this being readilyaccomplished by loosening the looking bar slightly which will enable thestrands to be shifted from one groove of the corrugations to anotherover the rounded ridges. Thus, the rounded ridges of the corrugationsprovided by the sinuous edges of the flanges are of advantage, the samepermitting the strands to be sprung thereover when the locking bar isloosened. The rounded ridges, however, do not permit the strands togravitate when the locking bar is loosened, but merely permit thestrands to be sprung from one groove to another, for purpose ofadjusting the strands vertically.

Having thus described the invention, what is "claimed as new is A fencepost provided with a longitudinal channel in one side thereof and withthe lower extremity of said channel tapering off flush with the surfaceof the post, a locking bar fitting within the said channel and with thelowerextremity thereof bent outwardly with a radius of curvature equalto the tapering end of said slot, the flanges formed by the said channelbeing continuous and provided with corrugations, which extend flush withthe bottom of said channel, the lower portion of said locking barresting against the lowered tapered end of said channel and holding thelocking bar spaced away from the bottom thereof, allowing for thepassage of the strands of a fence through the said transversecorrugations, and means engaging the locking bar and post adapted tohold the same against relative movements.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID E. SNOKE. WVitnesses:

M. P. NOLEN, Z. HEARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

